Officers honor fallen BART detective

Updated 9:31 am, Thursday, January 30, 2014

Thousands salute as BART police Sgt. Tom Smith's casket is placed into the hearse after his funeral service.

Thousands salute as BART police Sgt. Tom Smith's casket is placed into the hearse after his funeral service.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 2 of 20

Law enforcement officers embrace before the start of the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Law enforcement officers embrace before the start of the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 3 of 20

The daughter of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, Summer, 6 clutches the flag that draped her father's casket as she waits with her mother Kellie following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

The daughter of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, Summer, 6 clutches the flag that draped her father's casket as she waits with her mother Kellie following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 4 of 20

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21, is carried into the church for the funeral service.Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21, is carried into the church for the funeral ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 5 of 20

Law enforcement officers embrace before the start of the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Law enforcement officers embrace before the start of the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 6 of 20

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21, is carried into the church for the funeral service.Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21, is carried into the church for the funeral ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 7 of 20

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 8 of 20

Police, family and friends make their way to the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Police, family and friends make their way to the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 9 of 20

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral service for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 10 of 20

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21.Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Fellow BART police officers line the front entrance into the church for the funeral for BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 11 of 20

Family members arrive for the funeral service for f BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 2. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. less

Family members arrive for the funeral service for f BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, who was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 2. Thousands of police, ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 12 of 20

The brother of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, Ed Smith watches with his family as the casket is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

The brother of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, Ed Smith watches with his family as the casket is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 13 of 20

Law enforcement officers salute as the body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

Law enforcement officers salute as the body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 14 of 20

Hundreds salute as the hearse pulls away with body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

Hundreds salute as the hearse pulls away with body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 15 of 20

Hayward Police Officer, Todd Shaheen, a brother-in-law to BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith waits for the casket to be removed from the church following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

Hayward Police Officer, Todd Shaheen, a brother-in-law to BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith waits for the casket to be removed from the church following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 16 of 20

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, Calif. on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2013. Smith was shot and killed by a colleague during a probation search of an apartment in Dublin on Jan. 21. less

The body of BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith, is carried to the hearse following the funeral service. Thousands of police, family and friends were in attendance at the neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 17 of 20

Kellie Smith, wife of BART police Sgt. Tom Smith, and their daughter, Summer, 6, are escorted out of the church after his funeral.

Kellie Smith, wife of BART police Sgt. Tom Smith, and their daughter, Summer, 6, are escorted out of the church after his funeral.

(01-29) 18:11 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Whenever BART police Sgt. Tom "Tommy" Smith would hang out with his brothers, who are also cops, they had a rule. They never said goodbye, but instead urged each other to stay out of harm's way.

At Smith's funeral Wednesday, one of those brothers, Newark police Officer Patrick Smith, stuck to the tradition.

"We never say goodbye, and I refuse to do so today," he said. "So stay safe, little brother. We love you, and we'll miss you greatly."

Patrick Smith spoke at the Neighborhood Church of Castro Valley, where thousands of police officers from around the Bay Area and the nation gathered to honor his brother, BART's head of detectives, who was accidentally shot and killed by an officer in his unit during a Jan. 21 apartment search in Dublin.

Detective Michael Maes, the man who shot Smith, had been expected to join the mourners - his family said he felt a duty to be there - but some in the audience said he did not ultimately attend. And the tragic circumstances of the killing went unmentioned.

Sources familiar with the investigation have told The Chronicle that Maes fired at Smith, a 42-year-old San Ramon resident, after apparently mistaking him momentarily for a threat.

The funeral began after a procession of police vehicles arrived at the church under damp skies, driving under a giant American flag hung between two Alameda County Fire Department ladder trucks.

A row of K-9 officers sat with their dogs outside the church as the hearse carrying Smith's flag-draped casket pulled to the curb. Smith was a former K-9 officer, and his wife, Kellie, is currently with BART's unit. In the foyer were picture collages of Smith and his family, one showing him at the beach with his 6-year-old daughter, Summer.

As police bagpipers and drummers played, Smith's family escorted the casket into the church. The pallbearers included Smith's brothers, Patrick and Ed Smith, an Alameda County sheriff's deputy, as well as brother-in-law Todd Shaheen, a Hayward police officer.

Among the speakers was state Attorney General Kamala Harris. Addressing Tom Smith's daughter, Harris smiled and said, "Your dad is a hero, and that is how California as a state thinks of him and will always remember him."

BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey's voice broke as he recounted how he had turned to his Bible while grappling with the death.

Ultimately, he said, Smith's legacy "will produce many seeds," and his officers will continue to move forward as an agency on the "road traveled together with Tommy."

The service was laced with grief and humor. Patrick Smith recalled how his brother had celebrated New Year's Eve years ago as he began dating the fellow BART officer, Kellie, who would become his wife.

Tom Smith had finagled working a shift with her that night, his brother said, and opened up his trunk to pull out a picnic basket, a blanket, two Champagne glasses and a "bottle of some nonalcoholic beverage" for a toast. Soft laughter filled the church.

On the day he married Kellie in 2001, the fallen officer "cried like a little schoolgirl," Patrick Smith said.

"The world was a better place with Tommy in it," his brother said. "His early departure has cheated all of us."

At the end of the service, the flag from Smith's casket was folded by an honor guard, and Rainey presented it to Kellie Smith. A bugler sounded taps, and a recording was played in which a dispatcher called out for S-34 - Tom Smith's badge number - and said, "Gone, but never forgotten. Thank you for your service."

To the strains of "Amazing Grace," the casket was placed into the hearse as officers, their badges wrapped in black bands, saluted under a colorless sky.

"It's just an unspeakable tragedy in so many ways," said San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, "and you show up for each other."

Also in attendance were five Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police officers who flew out.

"As far as transit police officers, there's a small family of us countrywide, so we stick together," said Sgt. Steven O'Hara of the Massachusetts force. "We came out here to support our fallen brother."

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